Nick Clegg says Nigel Farage's comments about Romanians show that the UKIP
leader's "beer-swilling bonhomie mask" is slipping to reveal his "rather
nasty view of the world"

Nigel Farage's ''beer-swilling bonhomie mask'' is slipping to reveal an extremely nasty view of the world, Nick Clegg has said.

The Deputy Prime Minister accused the UKIP leader of using divisive politics after remarking he would be concerned if a group of Romanians were to move in next door to him.

Liberal Democrat leader Mr Clegg also refused to predict how many euro MPs he expects his party to have after Thursday's elections, adding the UK Independence Party will do well and make gains in traditional Labour heartlands.

Mr Clegg said on the Andrew Marr Show he would be happy to debate again with Mr Farage (PA/BBC)

Asked if Mr Farage was ''indulging in racist language'' with his Romanian comments, Mr Clegg told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: ''I think the mask is starting to slip and I think what's being revealed that sort of behind the beer-swilling bonhomie is a rather nasty view of the world.

''I think anyone who singles out one community, one nationality, and says 'I don't want to live next door to them', I really think that's the politics of division and I think it really should have no place in modern Britain.

''I would say to people if you don't like that point of view, if, like me, you are really put off by this very divisive, nasty approach to things then please go out and vote.

''The more people don't vote the more likely it is that Ukip will get in.''

Mr Clegg added he would be happy to debate again with Mr Farage, adding their recent television clashes: ''I like to think that because I decided to take Nigel Farage on ... that's one of the reasons he's being subject to more scrutiny, that's why you're seeing the mask slip and it's revealing an extremely nasty view of modern Britain.''

Pressed for his prediction at Thursday's euro election after being reminded of his party's poor opinion poll ratings, Mr Clegg said Ukip would strike a "huge blow" to Labour's traditional support in the North.

He said: "I think Ukip is going to do well but very well particularly at the cost of Labour in their traditional heartlands, for instance in the North.

"That's not something you pick up in the polls but we'll see next week whether my prediction or yours comes true."